In the years 1981-1987 he completed his master's degree in philosophy and theology at the Higher Theological Seminary of Hosianum in Olsztyn. On 9th June 1987, he was ordained a priest in Lublin by Pope John Paul II. Between 1989 and 1993 he completed his doctoral studies at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). He obtained his PhD in 1993 (KUL), habilitated in 2001 (KUL), and in 2003 he was appointed associate professor of the Catholic University of Lublin. By the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland, in 2008 he was awarded the academic title of professor of theological sciences and in 2010, he obtained the position of full professor.
He was employed at KUL from October 1993 at the Faculty of Theology, first as an assistant and later as an assistant professor (1997-2002) at the Institute of Pastoral Theology and the Pastoral-Liturgical Institute. Between 2002-2005 and 2018-2019, he was Director of the Institute of Family Sciences, within which he has been Head of the Department of Palliative and Hospice Social Care from 2002 to 2020. He organised the Postgraduate Study of Drug Prevention and Therapy (an institution certified by the Minister of Health). He was also the head of the Postgraduate Study of Pastoral Care and Special Counselling. In the years 1996-2004, he was the Rector's delegate for international relations. In 2004 he was appointed by the Minister of Science and Higher Education as the chairman of the team of experts on teaching standards in the field of family sciences. In the years 2004-2008, he was the Vice-Rector for Research and International Relations at KUL. He was appointed as an expert on family sciences by the State Accreditation Committee in the Social and Legal Sciences Team. He was elected President of the College of Deans of Theology Faculties in Poland (2008-2016), a full member of the Lublin Scientific Society (since 2011). In 2008-2016, he held the position of the Dean of the Faculty of Theology. On September 1, 2020, he was elected Rector of the John Paull II Catholic University of Lublin.
He was a lecturer at other national and foreign higher education institutions: The Theological College in Olsztyn and the Theological and Historical Institute in Olsztyn (1993-1995), Marian Fathers' Seminary in Lublin (1993-1995, 2004-2009), Pastoral-Liturgical Institute of the Spiš Chapter in Slovakia (1994-1996), the Theological and Historical Institute in Olsztyn (1995-1996), the Theological Seminary in Elbląg (1997-1998), the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Bratislava in Trnava, Slovakia (1999-2001), and the Pastoral Institute in Lviv (2000-2001). Between 1996 and 2001, he was a consultant of the Pastoral Commission of the Polish Episcopate. Since February 2011, he has been a consultant of the Scientific Council of the Polish Bishops' Conference.
He has been a member of the Polish Pastoralists Section (since 1993), the Lublin Scientific Society (since 2002), the Polish Hospice Movement Forum (since 2000), the Scientific Council and the Editorial Committee of 10 fascicle (Family Sciences) of the Annals of Theology (since 2003), Görres Gesellschaft in Cologne (since 2006), the Chapter of the St. Camillus Award (since 2007), the Board of the Lublin Society of the Friends of the Sick – Good Samaritan Hospice (since 2006), the Advisory Board of the State Accreditation Committee (since 2021).
In 2020-22, he was a member of the Council for Penitentiary Policy under the Minister of Justice, since 2021 he has been a member of the Consultative Council of the Polish Accreditation Commission, and since 2023 he has been a member of the Chapter of the TOTUS TUUS Award in the category "Promotion of the Teaching the Saint John Paul II" and an external member of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Greek Catholic Theology at the University of Prešov.
Since 12th March 2016, he has been volunteer President of the Board of the Society of Friends of the Sick in the Good Samaritan Hospice in Lublin.
Scope of research: terminally ill patients and their families, support team issues, non-medical aspects of palliative and hospice care, prevention of social pathologies, re-socialisation through education, pastoral theology.
Honors and awards:
2003 - Award of the Chairman of the General Council for Higher Education - for the preparation of teaching standards for undergraduate and graduate studies in the field of "family science"
2007 - Doctor Honoris Causa of the National Banking University in Kyiv (Ukraine)
2008 - Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
2009 - Memoria iustorum distinction from the Metropolitan of Lublin - in recognition of his contributions to the cultural dialogue and building of spiritual unity between Poland and Ukraine
2009 - Medal of the Mayor of Lublin City - for services to Lublin, work and dedication to others, social activism
2011 - Diploma-Recognition from the Union of Politically Repressed Soldier-Miners
2015 - Distinction from the Patriarch of Cilicia - Nerses Bedrosa XIX (Beirut, Lebanon)
2017 - Medal of the 700th Anniversary of the City of Lublin
2018 - Primus in agendo honorary badge from the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy
2020 - Medal of the Union of Lublin awarded by the decision of the Mayor of Lublin City – for achievements in scientific and educational work, active promoting Lublin as an academic center
2022 - Award of the Minister of Higher Education and Science - for organizational achievements in the academic year 2020/2021
2022 - Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
2022 - Golden Honorary Cross of the Piłsudski Association
2023 - Honorary Badge for Merits for Polonia and Poles Abroad awarded by the decision of the Prime Minister - in recognition of exceptional contributions to strengthening Polish national identity abroad
2023 - Golden Badge "For Merits to the Penitentiary Service" awarded by the Minister of Justice
2023 - "Golden Medal for Merits to the Defense of the Country" awarded by the Minister of National Defense
2023 - "Medal of the XXX Anniversary of the Lublin Employers' Forum" - for contributions to the development of science and entrepreneurship, collaboration to youth education, and preparation for entering the job market
2023 - "Diploma of Recognition" from the Voivode of Lublin
2023 - "Order of Saint Paul the Apostle" - Patron of the Prison Service
2023 - Golden Medal "Meritorious for Polish Science Sapientia et Veritas" awarded by the Minister of Education and Science
2024 - Medal of the 550th anniversary of the Lublin Voivodeship - in the jubilee year of the 550th anniversary of the Lublin Voivodeship, as a token of gratitude and appreciation for the commitment and contribution to the development of the region and the preservation of its historical and cultural identity
Secretary of the Rector
Justyna Zaprawa, MA
Sylwia Daniewska, MA
Phone +48 81 445 41 20
E-mail: rektorat [at] kul.pl
